Best Places for Kids in the Summer

With staycations becoming more popular every year as families tighten their belt, we suggest a plethora of places where families can have fun without blowing the budget.

Real Castles

The coastline of England is littered with castles where young knights and fair maidens can have a wonderful time.

Let their imagination take flight as they scramble up spiral staircases to the top of the tower, run along battlements in the footsteps of long-forgotten soldiers and peep through arrow-slit windows at the enemy below.

Warwick Castle

Most castles are managed by English Heritage, Historic Scotland and the National Trust who put on historic reenactments and events such as jousting. Youngsters can even dress up in traditional costumes and join in the fun.

Caernarfon Castle offers free admission for under 16s who reside in Wales, and other castles have discounted family tickets.

Safari Parks

Disney’s Animal Kingdom and African safaris may be out of reach price-wise, but the UK has several safari parks offering the same opportunity to see wild exotic animals roaming free. Some have safari buses to drive you around while others allow you the freedom to spot wildlife at your own pace from your own vehicle.

Knowsley Safari Park

Knowsley Safari Park on Merseyside has around 30 different species of animal, birds and reptiles including lions, tigers, camels and zebras. There's also a Sea Lion Show and Monkey Jungle.